GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – McMurry University women's basketball fell to Colorado Mesa University – the No. 16-ranked tea in NCAA Division II – by a 64-41 score in the Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic.
 
From the outset, the Mavericks (3-1) showed why they are a top-20 ranked team. In the first half, CMU powered out to a 31-19 lead on the scoreboard over the War Hawks (1-6), thanks to its' hot shooting and strong defense. The Mavericks shot 11-of-26 from the floor (42 percent) and canned five three pointers. Conversely, McM was limited to a 7-for-29 shooting (24 percent) effort in the first half.
 
McM's lone lead of the game came at 4-3, thanks to a Taylor Russell jumper with 18:18 left to play in the opening period. But CMU took the lead back less than a minute later and McMurry would not overtake the hosts again.
 
At the outset of the second half, McM got to within 10 points – 33-23 – on a jumper by Adijatu Disu with 17:07 left to play. However, the Mavericks stepped on the accelerator over the next five minutes, out-scoring the War Hawks, 13-3, and extending their lead to 20 points (46-26).
 
McM refused to fold and – thanks to a defensive stand that held CMU scoreless for a four minute span – McMurry was able to climb to within 15.  A Disu bucket made the score 49-34 with 9:11 left to play, but the War Hawks would get no closer.
 
Disu finished the evening with 11 points, on a 5-of-10 shooting game from the field. She was the only McM player in double digit scoring.
 
Leading scorer Taylor Neal was held under double-figure scoring for just the second time this season, booking nine versus CMU. Tayler Boroson and Taylor Russell each added seven.
 
Mishae Roper had a team leading eight rebounds.